Kristina Strictly dancer puts curves on show in low-cut dress

They were knocked out of Strictly Come Dancing after only five weeks.

But their exit looks like being anything but the final blow to their friendship.

Kristina Rihanoff has confessed that boxer Joe Calzaghe is 'definitely the type of guy I'd love to have a relationship with'.

Show-stopper: Kristina Rihanoff has told Hello! magazine of her feelings for Joe Calzaghe, who has called her 'one hot chick'

He's a very handsome man, but actually to me the way he is is even more attractive than the way he looks,' the Siberian-born dancer added. 'We really, really like each other.'

Whispers that the couple are more than just friends have been circulating ever since they began training for the show.

Strictly an item? Whispers that Joe and Kristina are more than just friends have been circulating ever since they began training for the show

Bowing out: Joe and Kristina were voted off Strictly on Saturday night after losing a dance-off to Zoe Lucker and James Jordan.

They have enjoyed a string of dinner dates and the former world light heavyweight champion has been spotted leaving her West London flat after apparently spending the night there.

Calzaghe, 37, recently split from girlfriend Jo-Emma Larvin, while 32-year-old Miss Rihanoff ended a relationship with fellow dancer Vincent Simone earlier this year.

When asked directly if she would like a lasting relationship to develop, Miss Rihanoff said: 'God, I don't really know, to be honest. It's a tough question, which I haven't really asked myself - maybe because I'm afraid to know the answer.'

But she added: 'So far, unfortunately, I've been dealing with men with no backbone, who make promises they cannot keep.'

As for Calzaghe, he was attracted to his dance partner even before Strictly began, calling her 'one hot chick'.

Calzaghe and Miss Rihanoff were voted off Strictly on Saturday night after being outclassed in a dance-off with actress Zoe Lucker and her partner James Jordan.

John Sergeant does the seaside shuffle as he prepares for Strictly Come Dancing

The wind was howling, there were puddles underfoot and he was in plain sight.
None of this distracted John Sergeant from the task at hand.

With a look of furious concentration, the news veteran practised his one-two-three one-two-three in a seaside car park on Saturday.

He seemed oblivious to the audience of amused locals watching him dip and sway. Mr Sergeant, 64, is obviously not letting a moment go to waste while preparing for his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing.

Double act: John Sergeant and Kristina Rihanoff waltz in the seaside car park

He was in Lyme Regis, Dorset, for another reason entirely - to perform a one-man show based on his 40-year career as a political reporter.

But he brought dance partner Kristina Rihanoff along to squeeze in some extra training.

Unfortunately, they were locked out of the theatre during the day and had to make do with the car park.

Sergeant will compete against 15 other contestants in the hit TV show

One local said: 'It was hilarious. They just started dancing on the sea front without a care in the world. They were oblivious to everyone else and wrapped up in concentration about their dancing.'

Mr Sergeant even included Miss Rihanoff in his show that night, to demonstrate a few moves.

The sixth series of Strictly Come Dancing begins on the BBC on Saturday.

Mr Sergeant competes against 15 other contestants including Olympic swimmer Mark Foster, singer Rachel Stevens, rugby player Austin Healey and Gary Rhodes, the celebrity chef. Ladbrokes has named him 80/1 outsider to win - but Mr Sergeant is determined to stay the course.

Theatre manager Nigel Day said: 'He asked the audience if they wanted to be part of a block vote from Lyme Regis and told them to at least get him though to the second week so he could tango. He's afraid he'll be voted off first and he loves to tango.'